Natascha Hagen is a singer/songwriter from Austria who has enjoyed success in the Eurodance/Europop genre but is now looking to diversify as an artist. I caught up with her to find out what 2015 has in store for her.

What led you to pursue a career in music?
“I have always been driven by my passion for music. Of course there were times when I tried out other things, but I somehow always got back to singing and writing. 

A significant change in my life took place when I wanted to study at a music school in Liverpool and had to wait for an audition. That led me to bridge the time in Spain, where I happened to be in the right place at the right time to sing a specific song in a recording studio, which made me end up in the charts. This was the beginning of a long musical journey for me.”

What music were you a fan of growing up?
“I loved the music of the 80s. I especially adored Madonna for her stage presenceand loved A-Ha (I have to admit that part of it was because I thought that Morten Harket was adorable).” 

What was the inspiration behind your latest song and do you have a new album out this year?
"My new song "Remember Me" emerged out of an encounter that I had, which was a very special experience to me. It was about meeting somebody and knowing that our souls alreadyknew each other. It was a feeling of coming home, a familiarity and deepness beyond anything I had known before, although I didn't really know this person. I then found out that a lot of people had experienced something similar, many people know a love between soul mates, and a lot of people also have encountered their twin soul. I felt inspired to write about this experience and share it with the world. Hopefully it touches a lot of people.

You can listen to the song on www.youtube.com/nataschahagenmusic

My new album "Ambassador of Light" is in progress and will be released this year. There is a newsletter on my website www.nataschahagen.com, which people can subscribe to if they want more information."

When you write, you are giving birth to something new

Do you enjoy performing more than writing?
“Both hold a special fascination for me. When you write, you aregiving birth to something new, you are expressing emotions with your music and your lyrics in a unique way. Each song is different, as each voice is different. That is fascinating to me. When I then sing those songs and I see that I touch people on an emotional level, it is really fulfilling to me.”

Do you have any plans to tour in the UK?
“Yes, this year I will put together a band and play live again. Tour dates will be announced on my website."

Do you believe reality TV has had a negative impact on the industry?
“Well, the music casting shows have changed the industry. Music acts are not being built up like before, everything has become fast-paced, meaning acts come andacts go. The artists often experience a sudden hype, but they are also usually dropped just as fast by the industry that created them. This kind of environment also makes it difficult for the traditional artists to compete because of the extreme exposure these artists get.”

Do you still find it easy to motivate yourself?
“Well, it depends on the day. I guess we all have days when we ask ourselves if we are on the right track and if we are doing the right thing. I often push myself because I am doing this without the backing of a “big corporate machine” like a record company who would usually do all the promotion and marketing. I decided to do it on my own, because I wanted to be as authentic as possible. I would urge others to do the same. It is the only way to preserve the spirit of individuality and imagination.”

How do you think women are perceived in the business today?
“I think that the major companies in the music business still opt for youth and beauty. This puts a lot of pressure on female artists but I also think that a slow shift is taking place, because people want to see authentic artists, artists with a message. Besides, we all know that experiences grow as we are get older...We may lose our youthful appearance in time but with every experience we become richer as a person, like a good bottle of wine.”

I think each woman should have the freedom to express herself the way she wants

Is there greater pressure on women to succeed and do you feel they have to use their sexuality more than men?

“I think that women are still being seen as the weaker sex and therefore they still need to prove themselves more than men. As for the music business, there is a saying: "sex sells", so especially women, but also men play with their charms. I don't see it as anything negative, as long as that person feels comfortable with it and as long as it is not going in a pornographic direction just to sell music. I think each woman should have the freedom to express herself the way she wants to express herself, as long as no one gets harmed, but no woman (or man) should be pressured into doing things she doesn't feel comfortable with.”

How important do you think the Internet and social media is to the modern artist and do you now see it as an integral part of your career?
“It opened up new ways to reach out to fans. Before the web, if you weren't signed to a record company you had little chance to grow a fan base. Nowadays the Internet and social media platforms give artists the opportunity to reach out to people around the world in a way they never could. I like to be in contact with my fans; it's great to get feedback on my songs and on thoughts that I am posting and it makes me happy when I get messages from around the world from people who tell me my music touches them."

What plans do you have for 2015?
“The priority is to finish my album "Ambassador of Light", put together a band and the tour with my music.”

Is there one artist – living or dead – that you would like to perform with?
“Yes, Josh Groban.”

Outside of your career, how do you unwind? Do you have any particular hobbies or interests?
“I hold a passion for the spiritual and for chocolate (which drives me crazy cause I have to exercise harder whenever I have some!). I love to spend time with my friends, have nice chats and long walks and I love the sea breeze. I’m also fanatical about travel and meeting new people."

If you would like more information about Natascha then visit her website at www.nataschahagen.com.

George R Vaughan